Theodor’s Garden

Theodor’s Garden was inspired by the life story of a young man who shared his experiences of being abandoned by his mother. Transcripts of these conversations were shared a Lancaster University creative writing student, Antonia Wood, who created a story based on Theodor’s life and family relationships. This story is aimed at a general audience and is suitable for independent readers from age 8 upwards. The story may be of particular interest to children and young people who have experience of bullying or separation from family members and may also be a useful resource for education and social work professionals.

Theodor loves working at the horticultural garden. There’s something about being around flowers and watching them grow from small seeds to beautiful, living things. As Theodor nurtures his plants and flowers he is reminded of his mum leaving him as a young child and wishes that she had been around to look after him. Theodor wonders about the different types of support that flowers and people need in order to thrive and soon discovers that he has all of the sun and water that he needs in his life…